New AI-supported platform speeds up approvals for hydrogen core network pipelines

20.11.2025

Source: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

Germany is taking a decisive step towards the rapid development of the hydrogen core network: since this weekend, the first pilot hydrogen core network operators have been able to submit their permit applications completely digitally.

At the same time, selected authorities are processing the procedures completely digitally for the first time - via a newly developed, AI-supported application and approval platform.

The solution is being developed as part of an administrative agreement between the Federal Ministry for Digital and State Modernization (BMDS) and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. Hamburg is making the platform available nationwide, thereby further expanding its role as a pioneer in administrative digitization.

Based on DiPlanung - and extended for infrastructure projects for the first time

The technical basis is the proven OZG-EfA solution "Citizen Participation and Information (DiPlanung)", which is already in use in six federal states for regional planning and municipal urban land-use planning.
With the new hydrogen platform, this technology is now being transferred to large-scale infrastructure projects for the first time.

The fully digital process management covers the entire process chain - from the application to the specialist participation to the decision. Authorities and network operators should thus receive significantly faster approval procedures in future.

Go-live completed - financing via the Climate Transformation Fund

The launch of the platform on Saturday marked the activation of the first expansion stage of a nationwide, AI-supported approval process. The project was initiated by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and financed by the Climate and Transformation Fund (KTF).

AI integration to be further expanded in 2026

BMDS and Hamburg are planning to continue their cooperation in 2026 and to deeply integrate an AI component provided by the federal government into the platform. The knowledge gained will then be incorporated into digital municipal procedures throughout Germany - a further step towards faster, standardized and transparent approval processes.